Development Technologist **Internal Only**

Company Description

IPS (Part of the Culina Group) works with some of the best known brands and provides cost effective and innovative co-packing, co-filling and co-manufacturing solutions within the UK.

At Culina we have a winning culture, we believe that our culture is one of the reasons our company continues to thrive… A place where you're valued, challenged, and inspired!

Job Description

IPS is looking for a Development Technologist to join our team in St Helens. You will develop new recipes, enhance and reformulate existing products, and support the technical processes that ensure our products are safe, compliant and ready for launch.

Working closely with Commercial, Manufacturing and Technical teams, you will translate development-kitchen ideas into recipes that can be produced successfully at scale. You will also support the site Specifications Technologist and help maintain robust food safety, supplier approval and product compliance processes.

Key responsibilities include:

• Developing new product concepts and adapting existing recipes in line with customer briefs.
• Calculating nutritional data, preparing kitchen samples and presenting product rationale to customers.
• Supporting factory trials, product testing, shelf-life assessments and product launches.
• Managing supplier approvals and annual reviews, including checking BRCGS certificates, specifications, HACCP plans, allergen statements and other compliance documents.
• Conducting allergen risk assessments for new suppliers, raw materials and product changes.
• Creating and maintaining accurate raw material intake cards covering allergens, storage, coding, shelf life and quality checks.
• Supporting HACCP studies, process flow diagrams, technical reviews and risk assessments for new products and processes.
• Maintaining awareness of customer standards and supporting customer portals, audits, information requests and compliance reviews.
• Helping to complete customer gap analyses, internal audits and corrective-action follow-up.
• Providing absence cover for artwork reviews and product specification verification, approval and amendments.

Qualifications

Essential qualifications and technical skills:

• Level 3 HACCP qualification or above.
• Level 3 Food Hygiene qualification or above.
• Internal audit training.
• Good IT skills and confidence working with technical systems and documentation.
• Knowledge or experience relating to food, nutrition and health.

Knowledge and experience:

• Experience within FMCG food manufacturing, ideally involving ambient or shelf-stable products.
• Experience working with, or supplying, leading retailers or major brands.
• Knowledge of food safety, legality and quality management systems.
• Understanding of ingredients, nutritional composition, allergens and food-production regulations.
• Experience working accurately to KPIs, deadlines and customer requirements.

Personal qualities:

• A clear, positive communicator who builds collaborative relationships.
• Well organised, able to prioritise effectively and comfortable working to strict deadlines.

Additional Information

As part of our drive to make IPS a great place to work, we are proud to be an inclusive and diverse organisation where we are committed to employee development and recognising success for hard working performers.

Our dedicated learning and development programmes are open to every employee to give you the opportunity to shape your own future within logistics and continue to work in an environment where team culture thrives.

Our people are the driving force behind our success, which is why we offer a wide range of benefits which include:

• Competitive annual leave. 
• Pension scheme – We want colleagues to enjoy a comfortable retirement so we offer a great contribution of 4% employee and 4% employer.
• Life Assurance -  x2 your annual salary.
• Wellness – Via our Employee Assistance Programme we offer immediate access to a confidential telephone counselling and legal information service that operates 24 hours a days, 365 days a year. 
• Eye Care Vouchers – We can provide you with substantial savings with free eye tests and discounts on prescription glasses. 
• Reward & Recognition – We recognise that employees have gone the extra mile via Employee of the Month and Year, special recognition and long service awards.
• Everyday discounts - Via our benefit platform you will have access to over 50 retailer discounts for everyday savings!

If you meet the requirements for the above role and are looking for your next career opportunity, please apply now and become a part of our #WinningTeam!